117 



I have frequently found this larva in much decayed logs and 

 stumps. Dr. Harris says he has found them in old apple trees, the 

 wood of which he says they eat. I do not think they are injurious. 



Spec. char. Imago. — The general color black, covered in some places 

 with a white down, especially on the head and thorax, spots on the 

 elytra and on the under side. Head much narrower than the thorax; 

 the antennae serrate; thorax quadrate, longer than wide, with a 

 large, oval, velvety, black eye-like spot on each side, which is sur- 

 rounded by a distinct ring of white down. Elytra striate, and 

 sprinkled with whitish dots of down. Length from one inch and 

 one - fourth to one inch and a half; width about one-third the length. 



Quite a number of species belonging to this family are found in 

 Illinois, which are very difficult to distinguish from each other, but, 

 as they have a strong family likeness and very similar habits, it will 

 only be necessary for me to mention a few which are most frequently 

 met with. 



Arthostethus infuscatus — Germ. (Aphanobius sordidus — Melsh.) 



Very dark brown, slightly paler toward the extremity of the ely- 

 tra. The front of the head and thorax regularly curved downward in 

 front, the front margin of the head not turned up; the antenna? very 

 strongly and distinctly serrate, the third joint longer than the sec- 

 ond, but shorter than the fourth. Looking at it from the side a broad 

 deep indenture is seen where the thorax and elytra meet. Posterior 

 corners of the thorax prolonged as usual into spines; the dorsal line 

 on the top of each spine forms a straight, sharp ridge, running ob- 

 liquely inward rather nearer the lateral than the posterior margin. 

 Scutellum oblong, regularly rounded posteriorly, upper surface 

 slightly concave. The first tarsal joint of the middle and posterior 

 tarsi longer than the second, but scarcely as long as the second and 

 third taken together. The elytra terminate in a sharp point, but are 

 not strictly mucronate. The entire surface thickly covered with 

 short yellow hairs, which give the insect a dark yellowish-brown ap- 

 pearance. The under side black or dark-brown. Length nearly one 

 inch. 



Found in Southern Illinois, but not abundant. 



Melanotus fissilis — Say. 



This species has had the misfortune to receive a number of names, 

 as Cratonychus brevicollis, Herbst ; Melanotus cinereus, Weber ; M. sphen- 

 oidale*, Melsh, etc. Of a uniform reddish-brown color, covered with 

 short, pale, yellowish hairs, which give it a dark, ashen hue when 

 living. Head convex, rounded on the front edge; antennae pale-red, 

 short, serrate. Thorax convex, not contracted near the posterior 

 spines ; spines obtuse, with a distinct cleft or fissure just inside of 

 each at the base. Elvtra striate, and regularly punctured. The tarsi 

 hairy and claws pectinate. Length about three-fifths of an inch. 



Common throughout the State, especially where there are groves, 

 and in the timber sections. 



